Calgary climber dies on Everest

A mountain climber from Calgary has died on Mount Everest after making it to the summit without the use of oxygen.

At least two climbing websites have confirmed the death May 21 of Frank Ziebarth, 29, who moved to the city two years ago from Germany.

Ziebarth is reported to have reached the summit on the Tibetan side, and was last seen at 8,700 metres determined to descend under his own strength.

“Very sadly, Frank could not make it back to high camp, suffering from hypothermia and obvious lack of oxygen,” his climbing partners, Alexandre Pare, Manuel Pizarro and Anna Baranska said in a statement posted on EverestNews.com.

“It was later confirmed by fellow climbers that his body now rests peacefully at the bottom of the third step, high on Mount Everest.”

Pizarro declined an interview request. He said he will speak about what happened once he returns to Canada next week.